New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-05
PRICE THREE CENTS.
ESCAPED FROM "THE CAGE
A PRISONERS BOLD DASH FOR LIBERTY.
LIE LEAvEsA FAT POLICEMAN PAINTING AND BAy-
FLED BEHIND.

LIE LEAVES FAT POLICEMAN PAINTING AND BAY-
FLED BEHIND
genefai aAarm was sent out from Police Head.
quarters last night for the arrest of John Dixon.
wounded burglar, who escaped from the oape
in Bellevue Hospital at an early hour Yesterday
morning. The cage in which Dixon was confined
Is situated In Ward No. 13, on the fourth aoor of
the hospital building. 1t consists of q space
about twenty feet wide along the west end Of
the ward separated from the remainder Of the
apartment by iron bars extending from the floor
to the ceiling. In this space all wounded or 81 *
persons under arrest are treated, and p Iceman
is on guard day and night.
yesterday morning the cage contained two other
prisoners beside Dixon, and was in charge Of
Ohcer Hendricks, who weighs over 200 pounds.
ABOUT b $50 Dixon woke up and asked the officer
10 "iio" MIN to go to an apartment the opposite
sue OF the ward. His request was granted,
ana the officer accompanied him. AS tic two
left the cage the officer turned to lock the door,
retaining his hold on the pris oncr when the
latter, with sudden wrench broke away from
him and ran across the room to door opening
on a stairway.
lhis was steep, narrow III ght of stairs, which
led to the yard, bounded by the wall along First
ave- so qui and agile was the prisoner in
spite OF the bullet that he carried in his hip that
bcfore the officer recovered from the surprise OF
his sudden move for liberty he was we'll on his
way down the stairs. The officer quickly followed
him' buI he was too heavy to run fast, and when
he reached the yard Dixon was sailing the fence
INTO FL st-avc. When the officer reached the street
nothIng coul1 be seen of the burglar. Owing
to the early hour but few persons were stirring
about the builling, and no one could be found
last night who would acknowledge that he saw
ANYTHING of the prisoners fight.
Early the mOrninO of Auoust on &lo hu,.l,v
alarm In the grocery store of Isadore Rothstein,
at No. 1927 Third-ave, which was connected
with the apartments over the store went of.
Two OF Mr.. Rothst ms clerks rushed upstairs
and encountered young man who had broken
open the door rummagng in bureau. They
seized him and handed HIM over to Officer An
gelne, who took him to the Eghty-eighth Stect
station. There he described himself as John
Dixon, OF No. 254 East Sixty -ffth-st. While tho
sergeant was entering his answers in the blotter
the prisoner suddenly dashed through the open
door, and olaring the steps of the stoop at o
bound, started on run down Hghty-eghth-st
toward Avenue A.
Officer Angelne started in pursuit. but the
prisoner was steadily gaming on him, when he
hred shot and brought him down with o bullet in
his hip. He was then taken to Bellevue Hospital
and locked w in the cage. Later in the day tile
prisoner admitted that he had given a fcti 'ious
name and address, and added that his RIGHT
name was John johnson, and that he lived at No.
362 West One-hundred -and-ninth-st When he
left his home that morning, he continued. he had
but few pennies in his pocket, and after looking
In vain for employment and remembering that his
wife had rothing at home to eat and no money!
he became desperate and broke into Mr.. Roth
STEMS apartments. He admitted to the hos
rital under the name Of DAun. ar. had almost
entirely recovered from his wound when he
escaped Central Onfce detectives were detailed
last night to look for him.